Global Talent Departures Foreseen in Key British Occupations Due to New Government Policies
In the face of tighter visa restrictions, key industries such as finance, technology (digital), legal, and business support are relying on overseas workers to fill crucial roles. According to various government publications and industry blogs, these sectors are experiencing significant skill shortages and high vacancy levels.
The technology sector, in particular, is showing a strong demand for skilled migrant workers. In 2022, nearly 54,000 international tech workers migrated to the UK. Roles like programmers, software development professionals, design and development engineers, cybersecurity specialists, IT business analysts, and systems designers are being recruited from abroad to meet this demand.
The creative industries, which make up a significant portion of the UK's high-growth focus, also rely extensively on international talent. With 16% of the workforce being migrants as of 2024, this sector is expected to attract a growing number of skilled workers, including those in digital and business support roles.
The legal and business support sectors, while not explicitly detailed in the search results, are often closely aligned with financial and professional services, which continue to rely on international talent. Legal support for immigration routes and business investment indicates a continuing demand for overseas expertise.
Finance, traditionally a key sector in the UK economy, particularly in London, is known for requiring international skilled workers. Roles linked to business support and legal compliance intersect with the corporate and investment legal services, making them crucial for the sector.
Notable immigration and policy factors affecting these demands include raised skill thresholds for skilled worker visas, increased salary thresholds, and government efforts to reduce long-term migration dependency by emphasizing domestic training and upskilling. However, for sectors like technology and creative industries, ongoing reliance on skilled overseas workers remains significant due to the scale of vacancies and global talent competition.
Tiger Recruitment, a B Corp Certified business headquartered in London, excels in serving the legal, digital, and business support sectors. By tailoring their services to align with their clients' values and requirements, they are well-positioned to help these industries navigate the challenges posed by tightened visa restrictions.
Despite the changes, it is clear that technology (digital), creative industries, finance, legal, and business support sectors in the UK continue to have a strong and growing demand for overseas workers, driven by skill shortages and high vacancy levels.
The tech sector, in light of its growing demand for skilled professionals, has seen an influx of over 54,000 international workers in the UK in 2022, with roles such as programmers, cybersecurity specialists, and IT business analysts being sought from abroad. The legal and business support sectors, due to their close alignment with financial and professional services, also continue to rely heavily on overseas expertise, particularly in immigration routes and business investment legal matters.
